Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-01-20
A SOLDIERS PET.

Coffee had just been served, and tn.
room was filed with smoke and tha
genial aftsr-fow of pleasant reminis
cent talk that always follows a gooc
dinner, and especially dinner wher,
old friends have met, old friendship,
been revived, ard old stories told
These men had been comrades in war
had served under the same flag, held
the same political opinions and suffer.
ed the same losses. 1t seemed pleas.
ant now after the lapse of years to ex.
change experience from an easy chair
with the best of cigars in ones mouth
and bottle of wine at ones elbow.
They enjoyed it keenly in their sober,
middle-aged fashion; told their stories
with gusto, drank their toasts with
enthusiasm, aud listened to each other a
talk with an esgerness of attention
and freshness of sympathy at once
as novel as it was delightful. Innu-
merable changes were rung upon three
themes, viz: Before the war" "the
war" and "since the war. We of the
new generation can easily imagine the
style of talk.
Each had told his story, when our
host turned toward me land said:
well, Harrison, we are waiting for
your story" ...,...---....
Harrison smiled deprecatingly, gaz-
ed into the fire, and then began the
following in his soft, Southern drawl:
Well, my story happened when We
were in Georgia, just outside of Ma
rietta and our mess consisted of six
men-two Georgians, one Alabamian,
Virginian, myself, and creole with
beautiful face and tenor voice that
would charm the birds from the trees,
named, singularly enough, Orphee.
We became a very tuneful set under
his inspirations, and exchanged musi-
cal information with much generosity.
Our favorite air was that famous camp
song, "Tenting On the Old Camp
Ground" You should have heard US
sing it. Orphee'S tenor, my baritone
and the three other fellows Ginning
in softly until the very pine trees stop
ped whispering to listen. aud the ERE
burned softly in admiration and war
somehow did not seem so hard and
cruel. Well, one dark night we were
sitting around the fire, discussing with
unwearied enthusiasm the prospects OF
the cause, when we heard irregular
footsteps outside and paused in our
talk to listen.
"You can turn in hers until further
orders" said our lieuteuant's CHEEKY
voice, and a minute afterward short,
thick-set man snteyed. He made an
apologetic little bow, shook himself
like dog, and taking off his large
wide awake, disclosed a dark, square
face. with shy, dark eyes, blue-black
hair and 8 wide, arm mouth. Ht
smiled tenderly, giving an air of great
sweetness to an otherwise sombre face
He sat down on a blanket, Turkish
fashion, quietly hoped he was not dis
turbing US, and then dropped his eye
meditatively on the ground. Silenc'
reignsd. We were too disconsolate tC
be polite, and so listened uueasily Il
the slow, indefinite STRINGS of tn,
wind through the trees. when sudden
ly new sound arose, as of stealthy
uncertain footsteps coming nearer ant
nearer. The newcomer pricked up hi
ears, and his face wore an expression
almost approaching gGils. - spy'
was nv first illogical conclusion as
rose to my feet and waited sxpectantly
The dap Of the tent stirred slightly
cautiously; the wind rose and swsp
the darkened landscape; the rain pour
| ed down with a rush, as if to give
tragic signiEcsnes TO what was to hap
pen. fcr-sOmelhing did happen-th
flap was ssddeniy pushed aside, an,
goat walked in aRd went stra.ght l
the stranger. who received her with a
indsscribable tenderness Of look an
gesture.
a rum so. said the yirginiau
under h:s ogeath.